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Commissioners discuss hiring outside firm to review county fire services; no final approval, staff directed to scope options
Summary
The Newton County board discussed seeking a third-party, systematic review of county fire services including policies, hiring and operations; commissioners expressed support for an independent audit but raised questions about cost, scope, procurement and whether to use ACCG or sheriff's office resources. No spending was approved at the meeting.
Newton County commissioners on July 15 discussed a proposal to contract a third-party firm to perform a systematic review of the county's fire services covering policies, hiring practices and operations, but did not approve spending at the meeting and asked staff to develop a scope and cost estimate.
Acting county manager James Brown presented the request, saying he had discussed the need for an outside analysis with the HR director and the fire chief and that "we all agree this needs to be beneficial overall for fire services." Commissioners with long experience on the board said issues involving fire-service operations have persisted across multiple chiefs and managers and argued an independent review could determine whether problems are perceived or real and recommend improvements.
Commissioner concerns focused on cost and procurement. Commissioner Edwards asked for an estimate because the work would be unbudgeted spending; Brown said no firm cost was yet available and that staff planned to consult the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and other entities to get price points and follow the county purchasing policy, including issuing an RFP if necessary. Several commissioners urged using ACCG to help define goals and find candidate firms so the work would be as independent as possible from the fire department and HR.
Other commissioners and speakers said they had received complaints from firefighters and deputy sheriffs indicating morale and policy concerns and expressed support for a review to address employee concerns and operational readiness. At least one commissioner suggested exploring whether the sheriff's office could provide an opinion or alternative approach.
No formal motion to expend funds was recorded. Staff said they would return to the board with proposed scope, cost estimates and procurement steps; any contract that exceeds purchasing thresholds will require further board approval.
Why it matters: a systematic, independent review could lead to policy changes, new training or staffing recommendations that affect public safety, budgets and employee morale. Commissioners emphasized independence of the review and following procurement rules before committing funds.
